People like to volunteer to meet new people and learn new things, and this is also true among technical volunteers. Unfortunately, technical volunteers are often treated like consultants who come in and fix something, and then leave; this kind of relationship does not leave too much room for growth or continued help. Here are some extra tips on making technical volunteers feel more like they are part of the team.

1. When working with a volunteer, it's a good idea to schedule a first "Get to know you" meeting, and don't plan any work. This will not only give the volunteer a chance to get a better idea of resources and equipment s/he might need, but gives you an opportunity to teach the volunteer a little bit about what you do.
   
   Here are some good points to cover:
   • The purpose of the class/ lab/ center
   • What population or community you serve (bilingual students, homeless, people with disabilities)
   • Main contacts for the volunteer (including on-site computer literate people)
   • Budget, if any (including computer budget)
   • Purchasing process
   
   
   
2. Show new volunteers where things are: the phone, tools, sign-in/sign-out sheet, rest room, coffee, etc.
   
   
3. Try not to be off-site or have meetings scheduled when a volunteer is around, because s/he may need to ask questions that will have to wait until you return. Also be aware that volunteers may have traveled quite a bit to get to your office, and if something is not ready or unavailable, they will get frustrated.
   
   
4. Don't let volunteers stand around with nothing to do for more than a few minutes. If absolutely nothing is available for a volunteer to do, reschedule them for another day and let them go. Always let them know what's going on.
   
   
5. When volunteers are leaving, make sure you wish them good-bye and tell them that you appreciate their work, and that you look forward to seeing them next time. They should feel valued when they walk out the door.
   
   
6. Keep them in the loop! If you are waiting for a P.O. to be approved, or you've had staff turnover, or someone is out of town for an extended period of time, keep the volunteer up to date. If volunteers don't hear back from the people they are helping, they often times assume their help is no longer needed or appreciated, which can result in an unfortunate loss for you.
   
   
7. It's a good idea to remind volunteers that they'll never be able to do it all, and you shouldn't expect them to. Be clear on what you expect of them, and that you are not looking for miracles.
   
   
8. This cannot be over-stressed: Thank your volunteers!! Tell them in person, or over the phone, or by card, or invite them to a lunch or barbecue- but be sure to thank them for the work they've done for you!